(1) Seats shall be reserved in the offices of Presidents of Village Panchayats, Chairmen of Panchayat Union Councils and Chairmen of District Panchayats for persons belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
The total number of seats in the offices so reserved shall bear as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total number of offices in the Panchayats at each level in the State as the population of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in the State bear to the total population of the State.
Provided that not less than one-third of such offices shall be reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
a) Of the total No. of offices of Presidents of Panchayats, Chairmen of Panchayat Union Councils and Chairmen of District Panchayats, 50% shall be reserved for persons belonging to the Backward Classes:
Provided that not less than one - third of such offices shall be reserved for women belonging to Backward Classes.
b) Of the total No. of offices of Presidents of Panchayats, Chairmen of Panchayat Union Councils and Chairmen of District Panchayats, not less than one – third shall be reserved for women including the offices reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes belonging to Backward Classes.